UFC 305 recap: Israel Adesanya submitted by Dricus du Plessis; Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France claim big wins
Israel Adesanya was unable to get back into the win column at UFC 305, but Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France both claimed big wins.
Christopher Reive
RESULTS
Hooker v Gamrot - Dan Hooker wins by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Kara-France v Erceg - Kara-France wins by first-round TKO
Adesanya v du Plessis - du Plessis wins by fourth-round submission
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That will do it for the live blog. Here's a report from the day's action for your reading pleasure.
Adesanya, speaking on the live broadcast
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"I already knew he was going to be tough and hard to put away, and I was cracking him, but I knew he was going to be tough so it wasn't a surprise.
"I was quite strong in there. I felt strong and able to resist his takedowns, I just made a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground, he adjusted to the Gable grip and got me.
"But I stand by what I said. To my family, I will fight for you forever. I swear to God, no matter what. I didn't do what I wanted to do tonight and I'm disappointed in myself. But at the same time I'm proud, because this is the best I've ever felt, this is the best I've ever looked and I just had the better man on the night. I'll give him respect for that.
"This is where I started my career in the UFC, this is where I made my dream, right here in Perth. But I'm 35, I'm doing the right things and I know all you motherf***ers want to see my down, you want to see me lose, but watch this. I'm not f***in' leaving."
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Nice words from du Plessis, who credits Adesanya's ability to get out of takedowns and calls him arguably the best striker to ever step in the UFC octagon.
"I do not want to be kicked by that man again."
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Du Plessis must hit quite hard, or his just hit the right spot, because the shot that started it appeared to be a glancing blow.
"I'll be back"
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Adesanya walks to the broadcast camera to address the world.
"I made a silly mistake. Watch me, I'll be back."
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A right hook from Du Plessis looks to hurt Adesanya. The Kiwi tried to circle away by du Plessis ran after him peppering away. He landed a couple of good shots to the side of Adesanya's head before dragging him to the mat.
He was straight onto the choke from there. It was deep and Adesanya has to tap.
Fun fight. Credit to du Plessis. His finishing instincts are terrific.
DU PLESSIS BY SUBMISSION
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Du Plessis drags Adesanya to the ground. Straight into the choke.
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And again.
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Good left hook from du Plessis stumbles Adesanya.
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Adesanya going to work here. He's being a little less cautious and picking du Plessis off as he comes in.
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Du Plessis kicks to the body.
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Adesanya tries to line up an uppercut. He's been throwing them well today.
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Du Plessis getting a bit wild with his power shots.
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Adesanya is striking at 49%. Du Plessis under 30%
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Big moment from Adesanya as he lands to the body again.
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Adesanya pumping the jab out to find his range. Du Plessis moves forward.
Leg kick from du Plessis.
Round 4 - FIGHT
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Deep breaths from both
End of round 3
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Adesanya's round as he turned the tempo up. Both men landed some meaningful shots in that round though, and they both look drained.
These next two rounds (if required) will be very interesting.
29-28 Adesanya on my card.
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Du Plessis throws heavy leather again.
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Big shots to the body from Adesanya.
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Both guys continue to land. Great fight here
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1min30 left in the round.
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Now it's Adesanya going forward after a good right hand.
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Du Plessis hunting Adesanya now after he hurt him with a left.
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Right hand misses from du Plessis. Nasty spinning elbow from Adesanya.
Left hook lands from du Plessis
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Du Plessis with a couple of shots.
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Slow head kick from du Plessis. Another body shot from Adesanya.
Du Plessis looks quite tired in there.
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Du Plessis comes forward with a hopeful right hand.
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Du Plessis with a leg kick.
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Strong right hand to the body. Adesanya is making the most of du Plessis holding such a high guard.
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Left hand splits the guard for Adesanya
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Front kick to the body for Adesanya.
Round 3 - Fight
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End of round 2
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Good adjustments from du Plessis there as he mixes in the wrestling. He had some opportunities to submit Adesanya early, but Adesanya was wise to it.
Adesanya landed some good shots and looks like he's got his range.
19-19 after two on my card. Definitely du Plessis's round.
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Adesanya goes for a trip and sort of gets it, but du Plessis scrambles and the horn sounds.
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This doesn't look like a lot, but it'll be wearing out the energy levels of Adesanya.
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Another takedown for du Plessis. But not a whole lot doing as Adesanya works to his knees.
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1min30 left in the round
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Adesanya back to his feet. Du Plessis still pressuring Adesanya with the wrestling and gets him back to the mat.
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Adesanya tees off on du Plessis and the South African hits the mat!
Oh, no that was just another takedown attempt.
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He looks to have hurt du Plessis with a good shot upstairs too.
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Great defence from Adesanya. He sells out on the choke and shimmies his way out of it and back to his feet.
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Danger here for Adesanya as du Plessis takes Adesanya's back on the mat.
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Great timing on the takedown from du Plessis and he has Adesanya down.
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Volume from du Plessis straight away.
Round 2 - FIGHT
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A head nod from du Plessis as they begin. He looks like he's having fun in there.
End of round 1
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Nice start to this one from both guys. Adesanya landed some good shots, stayed out of the way of du Plessis' power shots and fighting off the takedown attempt. Du Plessis with some good moments too. 10-9 Adesanya for me though. Very close one
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Du Plessis using the head kick well. He's quick with it too.
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Combo lands from Adesanya - uppercut, right hand.
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Good right from du Plessis.
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Left hand from du Plessis. Adesanya circles back to the middle of the octagon.
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Strong body kick from Adesanya.
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Du Plessis with a cut on his forehead.
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Du Plessis charges in for a takedown. Adesanya shrugs him off.
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Du Plessis switches to southpaw and feints a head kick.
Both men switching stance a bit here.
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Leg kick from Adesanya.
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Strong jab from Adesanya
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Du Plessis explodes in again. Adesanya avoids.
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Tight guard from du Plessis, he explodes and catches Adesanya. Nice shot that one
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Leg kicks from du Plessis early.
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Good shot from Adesanya.
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Du Plessis with a leg kick as Adesanya measures his range.
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Immediate stance switch from Adesanya.
Round 1 - FIGHT
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Both men with an intense look in their eyes as Bruce Buffer introduces them.
Du Plessis offers the glove touch, Adesanya obliges. A bit surprising, that.
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If you haven't seen him, du Plessis is an awkward fighter. His style isn't the prettiest, but he certainly gets results. He's got power and throws with volume. He's got a good ground game too, using his strength and submission toolkit well. He does leave himself exposed at times when he does charge forward, backing his proven durability.
Adesanya is the much more clinical striker, who has become known for his countering.
I expect du Plessis to come at Adesanya from the outset and try to land something of significance, and Adesanya to look for his opportunities and openings when du Plessis does so.
Du Plessis accompanied by Springboks stars
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Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth flank du Plessis as he makes his way down the tunnel.
The Springboks beat Australia 30-12 in Perth last night.
Tale of the tape
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Adesanya | du Plessis
Record: 24-3 | 21-2
Wins by stoppage: 16 | 19
Reach: 203.2cm | 193cm
Height: 193cm | 183cm
Next up - Adesanya v du Plessis
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Adesanya has made his way to the octagon.
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If you want to earn a title shot in the UFC, you have to separate yourself from the pack.
After UFC 305 in Perth on Sunday, it will be hard to deny Kai Kara-France.
The 31-year-old went into his bout against Steve Erceg ranked at No 4 in the division, with Erceg coming in off a razor-thin decision loss to champion Alexandre Pantoja in his most recent fight.
Kara-France needed less than a round to get the job done.
Living up to his nickname 'Don't Blink', Kara-France knocked Erceg out with about a minute left in the first round, after a tense and tactical opening.
Erceg started the fight defending well, with his head movement making Kara-France miss and he was getting his timing on the counters. Kara-France was the one leading the action for the most part, with most of what he was throwing targeting Erceg's head.
He began to target the body after the three minute mark, and almost immediately that opened Erceg's defences upstairs.
It was an overhand left that started it for Kara-France. He whiffed on a right and followed it up by collecting Erceg on the button.
Kara-France followed it up and though Erceg got to his feet, Kara-France went after him. Another left hand planted Erceg again and that was all she wrote.
KARA-FRANCE BY KNOCKOUT
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HUGE LEFT FROM KARA-FRANCE
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Leg kick from Kara-France. That's the first of the fight I believe
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Good right hand from Erceg. He's getting his timing here.
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Erceg walking Kara-France down. Backing him against the cage before throwing. Kara-France evades.
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Kara-France keeping a high guard. Erceg backing his head movement.
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Erceg defending well and looking for the counter shot.
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Lots of feinting early. Kara-France surges forward with a couple of power shots.
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Erceg takes the centre of the octagon.
Round 1 - FIGHT
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The high five and get into it.
Kara-France v Erceg
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My pick for fight of the night here. These dudes are both very talented.
Erceg with the height advantage; Kara-France with a very slight reach advantage.
Both have power, but it could be Kara-France's takedown defence or Erceg's grappling that makes the difference here.
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I'll be updating the timings post above, but expect Adesanya to be up after 4.30pm now.
Kai Kara-France is next.
Dan Hooker: "How do you like me now?"
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It wasn't so long ago that UFC fans were calling for Dan Hooker to hang up his gloves.
Through the Covid-19 period, Hooker went on a five-fight run where he won just one fight. In March 2022, he looked to move down to featherweight to try and change things up, but got blasted away for another loss.
Two years on, Hooker has begun another charge towards a title challenge.
The 34-year-old claimed one of the biggest wins of his career when he topped Mateusz Gamrot by split decision at UFC 305 in Perth.
Gamrot came into the fight ranked No 5 in the division and arguably the most deserving of the next title shot.
Hooker, who was ranked No 11 before the bout, took his moment, fending off Gamrot's wrestling-heavy approach and finishing each round strong to get the nod 29-28 on two of the three judges' scorecards, with the other scoring it 29-28 Gamrot - the first round being the difference-maker.
The fight sees Hooker extend his winning streak to three fights - his last loss being that March 2022 defeat at the hands of Arnold Allen down at featherweight.
Official decision: Dan Hooker bets Mateusz Gamrot by split decision
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29-28 Gamrot 29-28 Hooker 29-28 Hooker
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Also, the judge who scored 30-27 Tuivasa earlier has been relieved of his duties, according to the broadcast.
END OF FIGHT
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Big left hook lands for Hooker and the bell sounds.
I'm glad I'm not a judge, but I think Hooker took the last two rounds. He was hurting Gamrot, landing more shots of significance and defended the takedowns well.
Split decision incoming maybe?
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High hand lands for Hooker. Gamrot manages to get back to the clinch.
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Hooker over-commits on the right hand and Gamrot tries a takedown. Hooker with a guillotine defence again. Smart boy
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.